"Artists are some of the most driven and courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day to day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, artists face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get ‘real’ jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day they have to ignore the possibility that the vision to which they have dedicated their lives is a pipe dream. With every passing year, many of them watch as other people their age; achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. But they stay true to their dream, in spite of the sacrifices. Why? Because artists are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Artists are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes." - David Ackert
This was tagged to my name on Facebook earlier today, from a dear friend of mine. He visits me regularly at the coffee bar where I work at when I was still working full time there. Yes, great news! ( a little sidetracking here) I am no longer on full time basis at my workplace. I am now working 3 days a week instead of 6 days, because I felt that I couldn't cope with the work load. And it compromised my practice times for myself, which I am quite used to. A little bit rusty now, so it was a wake up call for me to go part time, and not forsake the musician in me. I am, and always will be, foremost, a musician.
Back to this post.
I love this. This is so apt. So perfectly written and when I think to myself that there is no way I could explain what an artist's life is all about and why do we go through this difficult path for a misunderstood life.
My friend is going through a hard time this year. He feels like giving up most days, but he numbs it with hard work and an extremely active social life. But now he is ill because his body is too tired, and he is unhappy that he has to take a rest. And he asked, "Is it alright if I just didn't care about everything, and coast through these months since December is drawing near?"
I said 'it's okay'.
He is one of the finest musicians I have ever known and has a great heart of gold. I understand the things that he is going through as I myself too, go through the same motions. You doubt yourself, you judge yourself, you compare yourself to other who seem 'normal' and have a clue about everything in life (education, property investments, healthy savings, retirement plan, a great family....etc....) and then you look at yourself and you feel small.
This post tagged to my name, made my day and made me even more convinced to why I am a freelance musician, a freelance makeup artist and stylist, and a barista in training. I love art. I love the 'kung-fu' learning skills acquired from everything I do, I love who I am.
And to be honest, I find myself happier than most of my peers, because they thought they had everything well thought out in this rat race of this cookie-cutter world.
I have a gig tonight (in two hours time) with another dear friend that I truly dread, but it pays the bills and when compared to other people, this job is fairly easy. A little painful, but if I try to see the silver lining to the gig tonight, I actually get to hone my skill, I get paid for doing so, I get a free meal and I am doing it with a dear friend. So what more can I ask for? Being a freelance musician is the best thing ever.
Thank you God for always watching over me. Just when I think that I am going to fall and break down, You always save me in Your own ways. And for this I am truly grateful. I hope that You will watch over all my dear musician and artistic friends and keep them sane, happy and full of hope. Bless them with only great things in life and inspire them to keep doing what they love to do best.
